Pubdate: Thu, 04 May 2006 Source: Tribune Review (Pittsburgh, PA) Copyright: 2006 Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/460 Author: Allison M. Heinrichs, Tribune-Review Cited: Prevention Point Pittsburgh http://www.pppgh.org Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Prevention+Point+Pittsburgh Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) RESIDENTS TO WEIGH IN ON NEEDLE PROGRAM The public soon will have the chance to comment on how needle-exchange programs should be operated in Allegheny County, the county Board of Health decided at a meeting Wednesday. After hearing a report by Renee Cox, executive director of Prevention Point Pittsburgh -- which runs a needle exchange program out of Health Department offices in Oakland -- the board said it would consider public comment on a draft of rules for operating such a program and vote on official rules in July. The health department will begin a 30-day public comment period "in the near future," spokesman Guillermo Cole said. County Councilman Vince Gastgeb has worked to shut down Prevention Point Pittsburgh until the council adopts an ordinance approving the program. The program originally was approved by the Board of Health in 2002 to address a public health emergency regarding the spread of HIV and hepatitis C through used needles. At yesterday's meeting, the Board of Health also learned the state is offering money toward the construction of a health laboratory capable of testing for bioterrorism agents. The board, however, must specify how much it would need, and use the money by Aug. 31. That might not be possible because construction of the laboratory, valued at $4 million in 2002, has not started, Cole said. Efforts to begin construction have stalled because the county also wants to include space for its facilities in the lab, but has not agreed on a location. The Health Department will continue talking with the county about choosing a site for the laboratory and beginning construction before the state's offer expires, Cole said. The Board of Health also approved $52,600 from the Health Department's Clean Air Fund to replace old air pollution monitors and to buy 'do not idle' signs for local schools. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake